Originally Posted by Hinterland

Another trick is to wet the needle eye - it wicks the thread through.

Originally Posted by Janis

OK everyone, now that you have your needle threaded and the other end nearest the spool knotted, slip your needle in the middle of the thread of the tail closes to the needle, about 1-2 inches away from the end of that tail. Sometimes it takes a while to do this the thinner the thread is, but keep trying. Then pull it through and the thread will be kind of knotted at the needle. It is knotted enough to keep the needle from becoming un-threaded most of the time, but still will go through the fabric. Try it and see. To take the thread off the needle, just pull that little tail and it will come off the needle. I ALWAYS do this with all of my needles and don't lose any in the pincushion. A threaded needle is always easier to find than one that is not.
Janis
Is everyone scurrying to get a needle and thread and try this? :)